Luka Jovanović is enjoying the best football of his career – and it couldn’t be coming at a better time.
Jovanović is relishing his time with the Reds fresh off a standout performance in the Reds’ 4-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in which the young striker scored twice to continue his impressive run in front of goal – taking his tally to nine for the season and placing him firmly in the race for the League’s Golden Boot.
United’s strong form has mirrored Jovanović’s rise, with the Reds losing just once in their last 11 Isuzu UTE A-League matches as they build momentum at the business end of the season.
Now just one goal behind Auckland’s Sam Cosgrove, Jovanović is relishing the form he’s built through consistency, confidence, and belief.
“I think in the last couple of years I’ve struggled to get consistent minutes,” Jovanović said.
“This year I’ve been starting nearly every game, and having a coach that trusts me is very important – it gives me a lot of confidence.”
That trust from Head Coach Airton Andrioli has been a key driver behind the striker’s rise, with regular game time allowing him to settle into his rhythm and deliver week after week.
After a period where Adelaide had been playing well without fully capitalising, everything clicked against the Wanderers – and Jovanović was right at the centre of it.
“We’ve been playing well the last couple of weeks, but we’ve just been lacking that final end product,” he said.
“This weekend we put it all together and scored four goals, which is very impressive for us as a team.”
With four games remaining in the regular season, Jovanović is closing in on a personal milestone, having set his sights on reaching double figures.
But individual accolades are far from his main focus.
“The goal was always to get double digits this season… I’m one off, so I hope I can do it,” he said.
Instead, the striker’s attention is firmly on helping Adelaide finish the season strongly – with belief growing inside the group that something special is building.
“It’s important to get wins late in the season and pick up form,” he said.
That opportunity continues when the Reds return home to face Auckland in what shapes as a crucial clash at Coopers Stadium on Good Friday.
And Jovanović is hoping the fans turn out in force.
“It’s going to be massive,” he said.
“I hope we can get a full stadium for that game, because it’s not one any fan would want to miss.”
